Don't rush to judgment in Trayvon Martin case

Martin Griff/The Times of TrentonAfter meeting at Trenton City Hall Trenton and marching to the State House, area groups rally at the World War II Memorial across from the State House on Friday, March 30 in response to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

The death of Trayvon Martin has led to yet another media dust-up. Touré, an MSNBC contributor, was on Piers Morgan’s CNN talk show Friday night to discuss Martin’s death at the hands of neighborhood block watcher George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla.

But Touré told the British-born Morgan he wasn’t qualified to discuss the case. “You are too new to this situation to fully understand what’s really going on here and what’s really at stake here for America,” Touré said.

Morgan didn’t miss a beat: “What a load of fatuous nonsense you speak.” Touché.
The United States doesn’t have a monopoly on racial tension. Or on people who have a deep desire for justice. Touré has since apologized: “I got caught up with ‘winning’ on some masculine bravado bs when my whole point has always been justice for this boy. I lost sight of that.”

The case has been a minefield for commentators.

Fox newscaster Geraldo Rivera blamed Martin’s hoodie for the shooting. Filmmaker Spike Lee tweeted the wrong address for Zimmerman, forcing an elderly couple to flee to a hotel. Lee apologized and offered compensation. Rivera said he was sorry his comment was a distraction, but continued to argue that in certain circumstances. a minority youth wearing a hoodie “is a 911 call waiting to happen.” Oh, please.

No better are those scouring the internet for photos — some fake — of Martin in gangsterlike poses. A picture of a teenager flipping the bird, real or not, does not settle a thing.

Organizing a posse to take down Zimmerman is reprehensible. So is blaming the victim. Neither approach serves justice.

Public outcry led to investigations that might never have happened. The wise course now is to reserve judgment until all the facts are in.